Policy Sections

Scope

This Policy applies to all Users of IT Systems, including but not limited to University students, faculty, and staff. It applies to the use of all IT Systems. These include systems, networks, and facilities administered by ITS, as well as those administered by individual schools, departments, University laboratories, and other University-based entities.

Use of IT Systems, even when carried out on a privately owned computer or other device that is not owned, managed, or maintained by Yale University, is governed by this Policy.

Policy Statement

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure an information technology infrastructure that promotes the basic missions of the University in teaching, learning, research, patient care, and administration. In particular, this Policy aims to promote the following goals:

To ensure the integrity, reliability, availability, and superior performance of IT Systems;

To ensure that use of IT Systems is consistent with the principles and values that govern use of other University facilities and services;

To ensure that IT Systems are used for their intended purposes; and

To establish processes for addressing policy violations and sanctions for violators.

Reason for the Policy

Information technology (“IT”) is used daily to create, access, examine, store, and distribute material in multiple media and formats. Information technology plays an integral part in the fulfillment of Yale University’s research, education, clinical, administrative, and other roles. Users of Yale’s IT resources have a responsibility not to abuse those resources and to respect the rights of the members of the community as well as the University itself. This Yale University IT Appropriate Use Policy (the “Policy” or “AUP”) provides guidelines for the appropriate use of Yale’s IT resources as well as for the University’s access to information about and oversight of these resources.

University policies that govern freedom of expression and related matters in other contexts also govern electronic expression. This Policy addresses circumstances that are particular to the IT arena and is intended to augment but not to supersede other relevant University policies.

For statements of other applicable University policies, consult the Undergraduate Regulations, the Graduate School Program and Policies, the Faculty Handbook, and the Personnel Policies and Practices Manual, as well as policy manuals and statements issued by each individual graduate and professional school. The policies of Yale’s Department of Information Technology Services (“ITS”) govern the use of Yale IT Systems, and individual departments and schools at Yale may have specific IT policies that elaborate on ITS’ basic policies.

Definitions

IT Systems: These are servers, personal computing devices, applications, printers, networks (virtual, wired, and wireless), online and offline storage media and related equipment, software, and data files that are owned, managed, or maintained by Yale University. For example, IT Systems include institutional and departmental information systems, faculty research systems, computer workstations and laptops, the University’s campus network, and computer clusters.

User: A “User” is any person, whether authorized or not, who makes any use of any IT System from any location.

Systems Authority: While Yale University is the legal owner or operator of all IT Systems, it delegates oversight of particular systems to the head of a specific subdivision, department, or office of the University (“Systems Authority”), or to an individual faculty member, in the case of IT systems purchased with research or other funds for which he or she is personally responsible.

Systems Administrator: Systems Authorities may designate another person as “Systems Administrator” to manage the particular system assigned to him or her. Systems Administrators oversee the day-to-day operation of the system and are authorized to determine who is permitted access to particular IT resources.

Certifying Authority: This is the Systems Administrator or other University authority who certifies the appropriateness of an official University document for electronic publication in the course of University business.

Policy Sections

1607.1 Appropriate use of IT Systems

Although this Policy sets forth the general parameters of appropriate use of IT Systems, faculty, students, and staff should consult school or departmental governing policies for more detailed statements on permitted use for their various roles within the community. In the event of conflict between IT policies, this Appropriate Use Policy will prevail.

A. Appropriate Use

IT Systems may be used only for their authorized purposes – that is, to support the research, education, clinical, administrative, and other functions of Yale University. The particular purposes of any IT System as well as the nature and scope of authorized, incidental personal use may vary according to the duties and responsibilities of the User. Appropriate use restrictions extend to Users connecting to Yale IT Systems with devices not owned by Yale.

B. Authorization

Users are entitled to access only those elements of IT Systems that are consistent with their Specific Authorization. Upon request by a Systems Administrator or other University authority, Users must produce valid University identification.

C. Specific Proscriptions on Use

The following categories of use are inappropriate and prohibited:

Use thatimpedes, interferes with, impairs, or otherwise causes harm to the activities of others.
Users must not deny or interfere with or attempt to deny or interfere with service to other Users in any way. Knowing or reckless distribution of unwanted mail or other unwanted messages is prohibited. Other behavior that may cause excessive network traffic or computing load is also prohibited.

Use that is inconsistent with Yale’s non-profit status.
The University is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and, as such, is subject to specific federal, state, and local laws regarding sources of income, political activities, use of property, and similar matters. As a result, commercial use of IT Systems for non-Yale purposes is generally prohibited, except if specifically authorized and permitted under University conflict-of-interest, outside employment, and other related policies. Prohibited commercial use does not include communications and exchange of data that furthers the University’s educational, administrative, research, clinical, and other roles, regardless of whether it has an incidental financial or other benefit to an external organization.​

Use that suggests University endorsement of any political candidate or ballot initiative.
Users must refrain from using IT Systems for the purpose of lobbying that connotes University involvement, except for authorized lobbying through or in consultation with the University’s Office of the General Counsel.

Harassing or threatening use. This category includes, for example, display of offensive, sexual material in the workplace and repeated unwelcome contacts with another.

Use damaging the integrity of University IT Systems or non-Yale systems. This category includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
a) Attempts to defeat system security.
b) Unauthorized access or use. The University recognizes the importance of preserving the privacy of Users and data stored in IT systems. Users must honor this principle by neither seeking to obtain unauthorized access to IT Systems, nor permitting or assisting any others in doing the same. For example, a non-Yale organization or individual may not use non-public IT Systems without specific authorization; Users are prohibited from accessing or attempting to access data on IT Systems that they are not authorized to access; Users must not make or attempt to make any deliberate, unauthorized changes to data on an IT System; and Users must not intercept or attempt to intercept or access data communications not intended for them.
c) Disguised or impersonated use. For example, a user (“user A”) with access permission to another user’s (“user B”) email account must not send emails from that account without clearly indicating that the communication is sent from user A on behalf of user B.
d) Distributing computer viruses or malicious code.
e) Unauthorized modification or removal of data or equipment.
f) Use in violation of law. Illegal use of IT Systems – that is, use in violation of civil or criminal law at the federal, state, or local levels – is prohibited. Examples of such uses are: promoting a pyramid scheme; distributing illegal obscenity; receiving, transmitting, or possessing child pornography; infringing copyrights; and making bomb threat

Use in violation of law
With respect to copyright infringement, Users should be aware that copyright law governs (among other activities) the copying, display, and use of software and other works in digital form (text, sound, images, and other multimedia). The law permits use of copyrighted material without authorization from the copyright holder for some educational purposes (protecting certain classroom practices and “fair use,” for example), but an educational purpose does not automatically mean that the use is permitted without authorization.

Use in violation of University contracts.
All use of IT Systems must be consistent with the University’s contractual obligations, including limitations defined in software and other licensing agreements;

Use in violation of University policy

Use in violation of external data network policies

D. Free Inquiry and Expression

Users of IT Systems may exercise rights of free inquiry and expression consistent with the principles of the 1975 Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at Yale and the limits of the law.

E. Personal Account Responsibility

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their own IT Systems accounts and passwords and may not share passwords without the authorization of the System Administrator. Passwords must conform with guidelines published at 1610 GD.01 Selecting Good Passwords. Users are presumed to be responsible for any activity carried out under their IT Systems accounts or posted on their personal web pages.

F. Encryption of Data

A staff member may only encrypt data with the permission of his or her supervisor or as required by Yale policy. All Yale employees who use IT Systems to store, access, transmit or receive electronic protected health information must encrypt that information as explained in Procedure 1607 PR.01. Other Users are encouraged to encrypt data for protection against inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure while in storage or in transit over data networks, but they should do so using endorsed software and protocols (see Yale Procedure 1607 PR.01 Endorsed Encryption Implementation Procedure). Users who elect not to use endorsed encryption software and protocols on IT Systems are expected to decrypt information upon official, authorized request. (see section 1607.2, “Conditions for University Access”).

G. Responsibility for Content

Official University information may be published in a variety of electronic forms. The Certifying Authority under whose auspices the information is published is responsible for the content of the published document.

Users also are able to publish information on IT Systems or over Yale’s networks. Neither Yale nor individual Systems Administrators can screen such privately published material nor can they ensure its accuracy or assume any responsibility for its content. The University will treat any electronic publication provided on or over IT Systems that lacks a Certifying Authority as the private speech of an individual User.

1607.2 Conditions for University Access

The University places a high value on privacy and recognizes its critical importance in an academic setting. There are nonetheless circumstances in which, following carefully prescribed processes, the University may determine that other considerations outweigh the value of a User’s expectation of privacy and warrant University access to relevant IT Systems without the consent of the User. Those circumstances are discussed below, together with the procedural safeguards established to ensure access is gained only when appropriate.

A. Conditions

In accordance with state and federal law, the University may access all aspects of Yale IT Systems (including devices not owned by Yale but connected to Yale IT Systems) without the consent of the User, in the following circumstances:

When necessary to identify or diagnose systems or security vulnerabilities and problems, or otherwise preserve the integrity of the IT Systems; or

When required by federal, state, or local law or administrative rules; or

When such access to IT Systems is required to carry out essential business functions of the University; or

When required to preserve public health and safety; or

When there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of law or a significant breach of University policy may have taken place and access and inspection or monitoring may produce evidence related to the misconduct; or

For Users who were members of the Yale faculty or staff: When the User’s employment at Yale has ended and there is a legitimate business reason to access the User’s IT Systems

B. Process

Consistent with the privacy interests of Users, University access without the consent of the User pursuant to 1607.2 A (1) through (5) will occur only with the approval of the Provost and cognizant Dean (for faculty users), the Vice President for Human Resources and Administration (for staff users), the Dean of Yale College or of one of the graduate or professional schools, as appropriate (for student users), or their respective delegates, except when emergency access is necessary to preserve the integrity of facilities or to preserve public health and safety. The University, through the Systems Administrators, will log all instances of access without consent pursuant to 1607.2 A (1) through (5). Systems Administrators will also log any emergency access within their control for subsequent review by the Provost, Vice President for Human Resources and Administration, dean, or other appropriate University authority. A User will be notified of University access to relevant IT Systems without consent pursuant to 1607.2 A (1) through (4). Depending on the circumstances, such notification will occur before, during, or after the access, at the University’s discretion. In the case of a former staff member, access without consent pursuant to1607.2 A (6) must be approved by one of the former staff member’s supervisors or their successors and no logging or notice is required. In the case of a former faculty member, access without consent pursuant to 1607.2 A (6) must be approved by the department chair or cognizant dean and no logging or notice is required.

C. User access deactivations

In addition to accessing IT Systems, the University, through the appropriate Systems Administrator, may deactivate a User’s IT privileges, whether or not the User is suspected of any violation of this Policy, when necessary to preserve the integrity of facilities, user services, or data. The Systems Administrator will attempt to notify the User of any such action.

D. Use of security scanning systems

By attaching privately owned personal computers or other IT resources to the University’s network, Users consent to University use of scanning programs for security purposes on those resources while attached to the network.

E. Logs

Most IT systems routinely log user actions in order to facilitate recovery from system malfunctions and for other management purposes. All Systems Administrators are required to establish and post policies and procedures concerning logging of User actions, including the extent of individually-identifiable data collection, data security, and data retention.

F. Encrypted material. Encrypted files, documents, and messages may be accessed by the University under the above guidelines. See 1607.1 - F, above.

1607.3 Enforcement Procedures

A. Complaints of Alleged Violations

An individual who believes that he or she has been harmed by an alleged violation of this Policy may file a complaint in accordance with established University Grievance Procedures for students, faculty, and staff (including, where relevant, those procedures for filing complaints of sexual harassment or of racial or ethnic harassment). The individual is also encouraged to report the alleged violation to the Systems Authority overseeing the facility most directly involved, or to the University Information Security Office, which must investigate the allegation and (if appropriate) refer the matter to University disciplinary and/or law enforcement authorities.

B. Reporting Observed Violations.

If an individual has observed or otherwise is aware of a violation of this Policy, but has not been harmed by the alleged violation, he or she may report any evidence to the Systems Authority overseeing the facility most directly involved, or to the University Information Security Office, which must investigate the allegation and (if appropriate) refer the matter to University disciplinary and/or law enforcement authorities.

C. Disciplinary Procedures

Alleged violations of this Policy will be pursued in accordance with the appropriate disciplinary procedures for faculty, staff, and students, as outlined in the relevant policy documents. Staff members who are members of University-recognized bargaining units will be disciplined for violations of this Policy in accordance with the relevant disciplinary provisions set forth in the agreements covering their bargaining units.

Systems Administrators and the Information Security Office may participate in the disciplinary proceedings as deemed appropriate by the relevant disciplinary authority. Moreover, at the direction of the appropriate disciplinary authority, Systems Administrators and the Information Security Office are authorized to investigate alleged violations.

D. Penalties

Individuals found to have violated this Policy may be subject to penalties provided for in other University policies dealing with the underlying conduct. Violators may also face IT-specific penalties, including temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of some or all IT privileges. The appropriate penalties shall be determined by the applicable disciplinary authority in consultation with the Systems Administrator.

E. Legal Liability for Unlawful Use

In addition to University discipline, Users may be subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability, or both for unlawful use of any IT System.

F. Appeals

Users found in violation of this Policy may appeal or request reconsideration of any imposed disciplinary action in accordance with the appeals provisions of the relevant disciplinary procedures.

1607.4 Policy Development

This Policy may be periodically reviewed and modified by the Provost of the University, who may consult with relevant University committees, faculty, students, and staff.